Talking to God

Imagine, if you can, someone walking along the street texting a friend on their phone or playing Pokemon Go. They are so caught up in what they are doing that they don't notice the steps, or lamppost or wall that they are about to walk into. It is easy to get so absorbed with your phone that you have no idea what is going on around you. It's just as easy in our lives to get so engrossed in whatever it is that's in front of us right now that we fail to engage with the reality of what is going on all around us. That can be dangerous, even fatal - whether it's stepping in front of that car doing 40mph or ignoring the God who made us, who rules the whole universe and who we will all meet one day. Both examples show how dangerous it is to fail to engage with the reality of what is going on around you.

Tonight, our theme is 'Talking to God'. So we're basically talking about prayer and to help us do that we're going to look together at both the readings we heard earlier. So please now turn to Luke 11. I'd be grateful if you can have that open in front of you – anything that is said up here only worth listening to if it agrees with God's word. I'd like to begin by asking a question: why don't we pray? Here are four possible answers:

1. You Don't Believe In God

That's a pretty obvious one! If you're unsure there is a God, then why would you speak to him? But he is real. And he is speaking to you, revealing himself, so that you can know he is there. Just look at this amazing world we live in – from the smallest atom to the largest galaxy – everywhere you look there are signs that point to the existence of a creator God. Perhaps you've even found yourself in a desperate situation and crying out to God. He is there and he has revealed himself in the Bible and especially in the gospels which tell us all about Jesus. Are you open-minded enough to read for yourself what he has to say to you? Will you accept the invitation to join a Christianity Explored group, so that you can explore the possibility that God does, in fact, exist? And you don't need to wait till you believe in God to start praying. Just talk to God and tell him where you're at. Why not take a free copy of Mark's gospel and pray something like this as you read it:

God, if you exist (and I don't know if you do), and if you can hear this prayer (and I don't know if you can), please will you show yourself to me as I read this book and help me to know if it is true that Jesus is your Son and the saviour of the world.

2. You Don't Know How

Maybe you're a new Christian, or no one has ever shown you how to talk to God. Prayer is really pretty simple: it is just talking to God, who is alive and personal and so able to listen to us. You don't need to be in a specific place, or pray at a special time. There's no special technique to learn, no need for candles or silence or music, no charge to pay. There are no official words you have to use. You don't need to close your eyes, hold your hands together and it makes no difference if you sit, stand or kneel. Prayer is simply talking to God and the best way to learn how to pray is to listen to Jesus teaching us. He is, after all, God and he created prayer. Luke 11.1-4:

Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." And he said to them, "When you pray, say:Father, hallowed be your name.Your kingdom come.Give us each day our daily bread,and forgive us our sins,for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.And lead us not into temptation."

Here we have a prayer that we can use as we speak to God as well as a pattern, teaching us the ingredients to include as we speak to God using our own words. We speak to God (the creator of the whole universe) in humility – yet addressing him as father, telling him how amazing he is, saying sorry for ways we have hurt him, thanking him for his goodness to us and asking him for what we need. Include it when you pray alone and when you pray with others and allow it to shape how you pray. If you'd like more help on how to pray can I recommend this book: 'Prayer and the Voice of God' which you will find at our resources area? It's very easy to read and explains what prayer is and gives lots of practical help on how to get started – or get going again. There are also lots of other books – so pop along and have a look.

3. You don't really believe God is Strong enough or Good enough for your Prayers to make any Difference

Perhaps your problem is not that you're an atheist, or are unsure how to pray. Maybe you're just not convinced – deep down – that talking to God will actually make a difference. Maybe that is because of the disappointment of praying for something that never came. If you stop to think about that you'll realise that you're really saying that prayer makes no difference either because God doesn't care enough to make a difference or that he isn't strong enough to do anything about it, or both. Listen to the rest of our passage from Luke 11 and be reminded that the God who created the whole universe with his words and who sent his son to die on a cross so that you can be forgiven is both strong enough and good enough. Luke 11.5-13:

And he said to them, "Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; and he will answer from within, 'Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything'? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

We can have full confidence when we talk to him that that God is strong enough and loving enough for our prayers to make a difference. Nothing is too hard for him. The God we pray to is powerful and in his fatherly care of us, he is very willing to give us good things – or keep from us things we thing we need but would not be for our good. Psalm 62.11-12a:

Once God has spoken;twice have I heard this:that power belongs to God,and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love.

The one true God does exist and while he's under no obligation to allow us to pray to him, or to listen to our prayers, not only does he, in mercy, extend that gift to us because of Jesus, he hears when we speak to him and he delights to do so! There is nothing that is too trivial or insignificant to bring to him. How amazing that we can talk to the sovereign God of the universe like that! Now, I guess many of us here do believe in a God who is all powerful and all loving and we know how to pray. As helpful as it is to be reminded of those things, the question still stands. Why don't we pray? Turn now with me to that passage from Ephesians 6 for a fourth possible answer. We see here that often we do not pray because:

4. We Fail to Engage with the Reality of what is Going on Around Us

And the reality is that we are in the middle of a spiritual battle. Don't misunderstand me – this is not a physical fight against people. This is a fight of faith. And it is not just picture language – this is a very real battle. But we so easily forget about it. It's as if we are walking around, playing Angry Birds on our phones, oblivious to the snipers shooting at us from every direction and the bombs exploding all around us. Ephesians 6.10-12:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Ephesians is all about the fact that God has done everything that was needed to save his people, and His plan is to bring everything under Jesus as Lord of all. That plan hinges on what we remember together tonight as we eat bread and drink wine together: that God came, in the person of Jesus, to earth. That he lived a perfect life but was crucified on a cross as a punishment not for his sin, but for ours. Because of his death we can be forgiven for our rebellion against God. He also rose from the dead and sent us his Holy Spirit to change and strengthen our heart so we want to live for him as we wait for his return. And while we wait we are to 'be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might' as verse 10 puts it.

• That means not letting go of this precious message of salvation or allowing the truth to be corrupted or changed.
• It means continuing to believe the promises of God even when those around us think we are strange or when we face hard times.
• It means living obedient and holy lives, through God's help.
• It means staying united as God's people and being undistracted in the task of getting the message of God's saving plan to the whole world.

And now, in this final section of his letter, Paul reminds the Ephesian Christians that they are at war. The devil and other evil beings still exercise a significant area of influence in 'this present darkness', until Jesus returns. Verse 12:

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

We're in Halloween season and the dressing up, fun and games surrounding what has become a massive commercial occasion can make it feel childish to be talking of real, spiritual beings. But we have a real enemy and we need to realise that we really are in a battle. We must not be oblivious to his mission and methods. The enemy's goal is to stop us doing what verse 10 talks about: to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. What are some of his methods?

• The devil is also known as the 'Father of Lies' and keeping people from the truth is what he does best.
• Persecution, hard times and suffering is another well used weapon to try and prevent us holding on to the promises of God.
• Temptation. Remember the time Eve heard the devil say "Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?" Not a day will go by without you facing the pull away from living in a way that pleases God. Then comes the condemnation that leaves you feeling you've used up your last chance with God and there's no point doing what the gospel says you need: to say sorry and trust that Jesus will forgive you yet again.
• Above all perhaps, the devil wants to make the church ineffective in order to stop the gospel being proclaimed to others. Maybe he will bring division within the church, or fear about what others around us think of us. Or just keep us inward looking and so tied up in busy social lives at church that we no longer have time for those who have yet to hear the good news.

We are in a fierce battle with an enemy who will stop at nothing to keep us from standing 'strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might'. We need to be alert! And we need to stand firm. Ephesians 6.13-17:

Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God

So how do we fight? Not with guns, or bombs. We put on the armour of God. All the pieces of armour are related to the gospel – to what God has done for us in Christ - and we need to hold fast and refuse to move away from that. The devil may have influence but we do not need to fear him or his influence – he's already been defeated by Jesus' victory on the cross and no longer has control over us. We belong to our heavenly father now and are safe in his hands. However we will be attacked and we are to go on the offensive against the devil. We do that by praying. Verses 18-20:

praying at all times in the Spirit,with all prayer and supplication.To that end keep alert with all perseverance,making supplication for all the saints,and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

The devil doesn't want us to stand firm and he doesn't want us to pray. But the response to realising we are in a spiritual battle is to pray. What does prayer look like in this spiritual battle? Notice the four phrases that include the word 'all'. We are to pray:

1. "At all times" Pray regularly and constantly – we are never out of the battle and so we should never be long without prayer. Don't leave this to chance – plan to pray or you will fail to pray. Why not come along to the church prayer meetings on Wednesday nights, or meet to pray regularly with good friends or those you live with?
2. "With all prayer and supplication" A life that is saturated in prayer includes all kinds of prayers: urgent prayers 'in the moment', formal prayers in meetings, routine prayers in your own words with others and alone and perhaps longer periods of prayer when facing a big decision.
3. "With all perseverance" So we need to be disciplined like good soldiers.
4. "Making supplication for all the saints" We need to pray not only for ourselves and families but other Christians in the church and further afield – including our mission partners and our Christian brothers and sisters facing severe persecution.

Paul also asks for prayer as he speaks to others about Jesus. Ultimately that is what the devil opposes – he does not want the gospel to spread - and so we need to pray for our leaders who do this publicly and for one another to keep doing it faithfully, clearly and boldly or without fear. The devil does not want us to stand strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. He does not want us to pray and he will do all he can to stop us. It's not all his fault – we are sheep and easily led. But we are in a spiritual battle and forgetting that fact will mean we pray with far less urgency. Or not at all. I'll finish with a quote from a church leader called David Platt:

I think it's interesting that in the church today, so many of us ask, "Why is prayer necessary?" And we don't ask it, but we really don't show with our lives that prayer is necessary. So we show with our lives that we're asking, "Why is prayer necessary?"You know why I think we ask that question? Because you don't need prayer when you're watching TV, we don't need prayer when mindlessly surfing the internet. We don't need prayer then. You don't need prayer when there is nothing at stake in your walk with Christ. You don't need prayer when there's no risk in Christianity. You don't need prayer when Christianity consists of a monotonous religious motion of routine, week-end and week-in; you don't need prayer for that. You can do that on your own.But when you risk everything to glorify Jesus Christ, you need prayer. When you sacrifice your possessions, dreams, hopes, and your career, and you lay it all on the line, and you stake your reputation down on your allegiance to Christ, you need prayer. When your longing day-in and day-out is to lead people to faith in Christ, you need prayer. You rely on prayer.You are desperate for prayer because you are devoted to His mission, and when the aim of your life is to affect as many people with the Gospel of Christ for the glory of Christ, you will find yourself given over to prayer."(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxHKXWOOhgk)

"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen."

We are in a battle. We will face sins and griefs, trials and temptations and feel weak and heavy-laden. In all those situations we have a mighty saviour who knows our every weakness so let's carry everything to God in prayer.